WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers GUNSLINGER—Highlander quarterback Trevor Shubert completed 22-of-36 passes for 195 yards and had a rushing TD in Week 1. Philip Rivers would probably be upset.

Ever since Trevor Shubert was 9 years old, he wanted to be a quarterback. On Sunday's while growing up, Shubert would sit with his grandpa, Ervin, and watch their favorite team, the Miami Dolphins.

Nevertheless, when it came time for Shubert, now an 18year-old senior at Royal High, to pick a jersey number for the Highlander football team, he surprisingly didn't select Dan Marino's No. 13.

"I didn't pick 13 for Marino, No. 7 for John Elway or No. 16 for Joe Montana," Shubert said. "I couldn't really think of a good quarterback who wore No. 17, so that's what I chose."

Shubert's No. 17 is the same number worn by Rivers, the San Diego Chargers quarterback.

"I don't want to model my game after anyone. I just want to play my own game and model it after myself," he said.

Shubert is in his second year as the Highlanders' starter, although this season has been less hectic than his junior campaign.

In 2007, Shubert found himself in the middle of a tough quarterback competition with Brian Blechen, who has since transferred to Moorpark High.

Shubert eventually earned the starting job, and in 10 games last year, the 6-foot-3 right-hander completed 125 passes for 1,361 yards and seven touchdowns.

This year, with Blechen gone, Shubert didn't have to look over his shoulder during the offseason.

Although Shubert now has no true competition for his job, he still feels pressure.

"If anything, I feel more pressure this year," Shubert said. "I know that everything falls on me if we don't win."

In Royal's Week 1 game at Chaminade High last Friday, Shubert was one of the lone bright spots for RHS as he completed 22-of-36 passes for 195 yards and no interceptions. He also ran in one of the Highlanders' two touchdowns in their 34-12 loss.

Although Royal fell behind 17-0 early on in that contest, Shubert remained calm and led RHS to a secondquarter touchdown before falling a yard short of a second score as time expired in the first half.

"A good thing about Trevor is his confidence never wavers," head coach Gene Uebelhardt said. "He never gets too up, and he never gets too down."

Shubert is also making the grade in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA. Uebelhardt believes Shubert's grades will help him get into a top college. The coach wasn't impressed, however, with one decision his quarterback made last week.

Shubert said he was knocked unconscious on a play in the first half, but he never told his coach.

"I didn't even know it happened until he told me after the game," Uebelhardt said. "He ran the 2-minute offense well and didn't throw any interceptions, so I couldn't tell.

"I took him aside after the game and said, 'Hey, Mr. Ivy League, you may be a 4.0 student, but that was a 2.0 decision. You have to tell me when you're hurt because you're too valuable to us and it's a long season.'"

Shubert and the Highlanders will take on Oak Park at home tonight. Game time is set for 7 p.m.